I'm currently trying to track down a no start issue on my 94 F350 5.8.


It was running and driving perfectly fine up until just the other day, when I went to start it in the morning I got nothing. The dash lit up like normal, the key chime worked, then when I went to crank everything shut off and the truck acts like its dead.


I suspect its a ground or something along those lines, as I messed around with the wiring for a few seconds that morning before I had to go, and when I did that I got everything to turn back on, but when I tried cranking again it acts like its dead.


If I get everything to turn on, everything works as it should until I try to crank the truck, or if I turn something on like the headlights. When I do that everything goes very dim and shut off completely, even the dome light.


The battery is charged, the alternator is new, as is the solenoid on the inner fender.


I'll be tackling it today, any ideas on where to start?

 

I'd start by cleaning the inside of the battery cables where they hook onto the battery posts. Obviously also clean the outside of the battery posts. This will solve the problem you are having most of the time. If that doesn't fix it, you will have to move down the line with the battery cable connections. There is also a possibility one of the battery cables is shorting internally.

 

... x2 ...

also, just because the battery shows 13 volts or so, doesn't mean it is still good. if the foregoing doesn't work, have the battery load tested or try swapping in a known good battery.

 

Sounds like the battery is toast. They can measure 13 volts with no load on them, light up the dash, maybe even a radio but will choke when tasked with a real current draw like headlights. The starter though, is the killer draw of course, maybe 200 amps or more, in a split second.

Remove battery, clean up the cable and ground connections. Charge thoroughly overnight and have it tested. Sounds like it's done though. If it's five years or older in this case you'll be money ahead to just replace it. Too many sensitive, voltage-dependent gee-gaws in a modern rig to gamble on with a defective battery imo.

 

My truck was doing similar things and i replaced the positive cable. It was so internally corroded.

 

I replaced the fender relay 3 times, the starter then finally the positive cable. 1 1/2 years later no issues since.